Prepare to cash in on a recycling revolution

CHRISTIAN McCASHIN helps you with the cost-of-living crunch

YOUR shopping bills will take a jump from February 1, but please do not despair.

The Deposit Return Scheme goes live then, so when you buy a drink in a plastic bottle or aluminium can that features the Re-Turn logo, you’ll pay a deposit as well as the price of the drink, but it’s fully refundable.

So think of it as being a way of saving yourself some money.

Similar schemes have been running in several European countries for years to great success, cutting down street litter and helping with recycling rates too.

Here are some useful tips to help you understand the scheme.

WHEN WILL I PAY A DEPOSIT?

From February 1, drinks in plastic bottles and cans with the Re-Turn logo will appear in shops and supermarkets nationwide.

These drinks will require you to pay a fully refundable deposit.

When you finish your drink, you can return your empty, undamaged container to any participating shop or supermarket nationwide.

WHAT WILL I PAY?

A deposit of 15c will apply to each container from 150-500ml and a deposit of 25c applies for bigger bottles.

WHERE CAN I RETURN MY PLASTIC BOTTLES AND CANS?

Most retailers across the country have now registered for the Deposit Return Scheme and have set up their deposit return points. You can return your empty, undamaged plastic bottles and cans to participating shops and supermarkets nationwide either through a reverse vending machine (RVM) or manually over the counter.

HOW WILL I GET MY DEPOSIT BACK?

Shoppers receive the deposit back when they return the plastic bottle or can with the Re-Turn logo that is empty and undamaged to participating shops and supermarkets. If they do it through an RVM, consumers will be issued a voucher that can be redeemed at the till against store purchases or as a cash refund.

Do not store drinks containers before the scheme goes live as these bottles will not have the ReTurn logo and are therefore ineligible for any deposit refund as no deposit has been paid.

CAN I STILL USE MY OWN RECYCLING BINS TO DISPOSE OF PLASTIC BOTTLES?

While all consumers should use their recycling bins for mixed dry recyclables, they can return their plastic bottles and cans with the Re-Turn logo to participating shops to redeem their deposit.

Only drinks containers in PET plastic bottles or aluminium or steel cans from 150ml to 3l are included in the scheme.

Bottles and containers not included in the deposit return scheme include: dairy drinks products in plastic containers or cartons, steel and tin cans that contain foodstuffs, and containers for cleaning supplies.

These items should continue to be disposed of in a recycling bin.

Glass drinks containers are also not included in the scheme.